RETURNING JIM CLARK RALLY ATTRACTING HUGE INTEREST
Organisers of the Jim Clark Rally are pleased with the interest shown in the return of the event as entries for the November 8-9 rally have almost filled within a week.
The rally has not run since 2014 following the deaths of three spectators but alterations to the Road Traffic Act, which brought Scottish legislation in line with what England and Wales has facilitated, has allowed for the event to return.
Entries opened on Thursday and 109 places had been taken when MN went to press with a maximum of 120 crews able to start the event.
“It’s definitely good to see the interest is there in the event,” deputy clerk of the course Colin Smith told MN. “The support we’re getting from competitors and locals alike is just tremendous.
“Most people were adhering to the regulations where it says that the first 100 entries will definitely get a run and you had to pay within the six days and most of them have complied with that so [we’re] really, really pleased with the initial interest.
“[With] the type of interest we’ve had we expected the Thursday night to be really, really busy and it was so it’s lived up to expectations. We’ve had a lot of entries from down south and from Ireland as well which is good for us.”
A plethora of Scottish drivers have entered including David Bogie, Euan Thorburn and Alan Kirkaldy but several other top asphalt drivers have been attracted too with Hugh Hunter, Stephen Simpson and MN Circuit Rally champion Chris West all lodging entries.
Four stages in Abbey St Bathans, Langton, Blackadder and Fogo comprise the 2019 route with 61 miles on offer to competitors across two days. While Smith is delighted the event is able to return, he admitted plans are ongoing to return the rally to its traditional three-day format.
“Our aim has always been to get the event back to where it used to be,” he said. “Whether it’s included in any bigger championships, that’s all to be discussed yet.
“Certainly we’d like to get the event back to running the Friday, Saturday and the Reivers on the Sunday. That is our plan, whether we can reach that goal it will depend on the amount of support we get this year and how things go for us.”